Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at 1^st Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in May and June from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are watching videotapes of Fr. Thomas Keating’s “Spiritual Journey” series.  This series is produced by Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. and describes the method and background of Centering Prayer developed and taught by Thomas Keating, a Cistercian monk at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.

The topics the series covers are Developing Centering Prayer, Models of the Human Condition, Paradigms of the Spiritual Journey, and Contemplation the Divine Therapy.

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house (no Tue. Meditation from

                                                     April 29 – June 17)

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

May Retreat Day 

Saturday, May 31, 2014

8:30 am -1:00 pm

In the Fellowship Hall

Compassionate Foot Massage

Our focus for this month’s retreat will be a group experiment in giving and receiving foot massage.  Tina Holston, a trained Physical Therapist, will give us simple information and guided instructions.  Some anatomy of the foot and massage strokes will be presented.  Giving and/or receiving a non -threatening foot massage can lead you to increased relaxation and connection with others.

Jesus washed the feet of his 12 Disciples before he was crucified.  Pope Francis recently washed and kissed the feet of 12 juveniles at a detention center.  The message is powerful.

Here are some additional suggestions for home preparation before the retreat: Wash feet, put on medicinal creams if you use them, as well as band aids as needed. Pack or wear a pair of thin socks and a bath size towel and a small cushion to go under your thigh. File any rugged edges on fingernails.

All are welcome to join us.  A freewill offering will be available.  Please contact Janet at hoffmanjms@gmail.com for more information.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

June 28                                 MMG retreat day     8:30 am – 3:00 pm

A Day of Zen Meditation

July 26                                 Fr. Keating video: “The Gift of Life”

Summary of Last Month’s Retreat

Our April Retreat day featured our annual Sacred Poetry selections collected for us by Joseph Cotham. Joseph brings his love of poetry to our group and it is infectious. This year we read together selections from the poetry of Mary Oliver, Rumi, Jane Hirshfield, Denise Levertov, and many others. The verse comes alive when we read it aloud and the wisdom of the group helps us grapple with the meaning. Our retreat day enriched us with the peace of silence and the deep emotion of well-chosen words.

In closing,

Some days it’s all fuzzy

I can’t find the world.

Can’t find the beloved.

Can’t even find the words.

Time to lie back and listen.

Maybe something’s being said,

Something I haven’t heard. 

Time to stop talking

And let the beloved speak.

Time to trust it all:

To stop searching

And let the beloved seek.

Gregory Orr